Course Description:

In this semester length elective course, we will study American short stories from 1920 to the present in four chronological units: the 1920s through the 1940s, the 1950s through the 1960s, the 1970s through the 1980s, and the 1990s. Because literary works cannot be evaluated in isolation, we will begin each unit with a discussion of the historical, cultural, and literary events of each era. We will focus on interpreting and evaluating the stories we read and making intertextual connections. Daily discussions of the readings and written personal responses will be a major part of the course. Evaluation will be based upon daily participation, response papers, quizzes, and tests.